CNN’s POLITICAL GUT CHECK | for August 11, 2014 | 5 p.m.
— n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

HAPPENING NOW …President Obama to speak about Iraq at 4:45pm from Martha’s Vineyard. Tune in live on CNN.

WITH VOCAL SUPPORT OF ISRAEL, CLINTON RANKLES PRO-PALESTINIAN AMERICANS …Hillary Clinton has been upfront about her support for Israel's recent military operations in Gaza. And her outspokenness is infuriating pro-Palestinian supporters in the United States. Since Israel kicked off Operation Protective Edge against Hamas in early July, Clinton has strongly and repeatedly said she backs Israel's right to defend itself. She stepped up that message in a recent interview with The Atlantic, in which she charged Hamas for "stage-managing" the conflict to engender sympathy. – Dan MericaFULL POST

Ethel Kennedy, the matriarch of the Kennedy family, challenged President Barack Obama to dump a bucket of ice water on his head as part of the increasingly popular Ice Bucket Challenge campaign to raise money for research into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Edgartown, Mass. (CNN) - The White House is putting the team of technology experts that helped revive the balky HealthCare.gov website to work, improving other government webpages, officials announced Monday.

The U.S. Digital Service, comprised of private and public sector technology experts, will help make websites of federal agencies and departments more user-friendly, accommodating the widespread desire among Americans to conduct business online.

Washington (CNN) - Hillary Clinton has been upfront about her support for Israel's recent military operations in Gaza. And her outspokenness is infuriating pro-Palestinian supporters in the United States.

Since Israel kicked off Operation Protective Edge against Hamas in early July, Clinton has strongly and repeatedly said she backs Israel's right to defend itself. She stepped up that message in a recent interview with The Atlantic, in which she charged Hamas for "stage-managing" the conflict to engender sympathy.

(CNN) - Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont says his brand of liberalism could serve as a "damn good platform" to run for president.

In an interview posted Monday to ABC/Yahoo News, Sanders, an independent who aligns himself with the Democratic Party, said income inequality is at its highest point in over eight decades - and the American people are ready to elect someone who's able to close that gap.